The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-16
PHILADELPHIA'S PARADE
TWELVE THOUSAND MEN AND 300
FLOATS IN LINE.


Rode Through the Lines of Specta-
tors-The Weather all that Could be
Desired Grand Stands Settle but no
One Injured.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept 15-The last
centennial of the events of revolutionary
times began this morning. If there is one
thing more than another for which the
1900, 600 people who are temporary resi-
dents of this city Of centennials are thankful
for, it is the weather. Even up to yester-
day morning the prospect for to days pa
rade was gloomy, and it was question
whether or not it should have to be post
poned, as for the past week fog and threat
ening weather have held the day. When
the special bulletin of the Signal Service ap-
peared yesterday morning stating that
special observations indicated cool and fair
weather for this vicinity, it was displayed
at every conceivable point. and buoyed up
the faltering hope of countless thousands.
This morning the prediction was fulfilled,
and all fears of bad weather disappeared
with clear sky, obscured here and there
only by stratus clouds.
EARLY AsTIR.
Philadelphians and their hundreds of
early this morning in their holiday garb,
lght-hearted and all bent upon the
single object of making the celebration a
fitting one All day Yesterday and last
night visitors, including distinguished
guests, military and firemen, arrived by
every possible conveyance, and the dozen
railroad depots were taxed to their utmost
in accommodating the throng which had
focked to 1.-The Cradle Of Liberty u to bear
witness by their presence of their love and
veneration for the historic document which
gave them liberty and freedom, and
made this a government OF
the people, by the people and for the peo-
pie. All the hotels were filled to overflow
ing by yesterday morning and every inch
of surplus space had been filled with cots
and other means of temporary rest, so that
many of the strangers haa to resort to the
beureau of infsEmsson, which was estab-
lished during the early days of the Constitu-
tional Centennial BOOM and which has
performed an important mission since its
inception.
A TREMENDOUS CROWD.
1t is safe to say there are at least 100000
visitors from distance, in addition to thou
sands from adjasat.t counties Of Pennsyl-
vania New I@S.,'9y, Delaware and Maryland.
Hardly State or Territory will remain un-
represented in the three days festival. The
streets to-day presented a beautiful appear
ance. In all directions, as far as the eye
could reach, it was one mass of bunting and
decoration. Many Of the newspaper offices
and public buildings made lavish display,
decorators having worked early and late to
complete their work in time. AT daybreak
this morning they were still at work putting
the finishing touches, which have been de
layed more o lesJ by theinclement weather.
Every arrangement had been made by
those in charge, and the day was one of the
most eventful ones in the history of the
civilized world The monster civic and in
dustrial pageant started from Broad and
Dauphin streets shortly after 10 o'clock, and
marched to Broad and Moore streets, dis
tance of nearly five miles, and then coun-
termarched through one long continuous
line of observing thousands, and buildings
decorated with the flags of all nations.
ON NORTH BROAD STREET
North Broad street was SO crowded as to
be almost impossible as early as o'clock,
and great crowds betook themselves to the
streets. Notwithstanding the efforts of the
police to keep the latter clear. Hundreds of
carpenters and decorators. who had been at
work all night, had transferred the magnif-
cent thoroughfare into vast amphitheatre,
with seats raised high ON either side. The
people were crowded on the sidewalks and
in the streets, and many of them were able
to catch only occasional glimpses of the
pageant as it passed. On Lower Broad
street there was scarcely a house,
public or private, that was not covered with
bunting, or in other ways suitably decorat-
a. The decorators strived for novel effects,
and in this they were highly successful.
Some houses were almost covered with
heroic statues of Columbia, surrounded by
the flags of all nations, while other fronts
We're completely concealed with bunting.
Odd Fellows hall exhibited a banner an
nouncing that place as 1.-THE spot where
Franklin drew the lightning from the
clouds in l752," and at other points busts of
Washington were mounted i'll front of
houses and profusely decorated.
RUsHEs FOR THE STANDS.
Many of the stands were constructed in
two and three tiers and most of the seats
therein were crowded as early as s o'clock,
and in several cases the crush for admit
tance was so great that number of women
tainted. Nearly all the side streets leading
INTO North Broad were roped off and were
hlled with trucks, on which huge tiers of
seats were arranged and rapidly sold. Many
Of the handsome residences ON the street
had their window Sashes removed and seats
mounted on the interior for the accommo-
daton Of friends. The sight before the APP
pearance of tine parade was q remarkable
one, the street being black with humanity,
While high above their heads every house
ana sCulu was CROWDED WIN mulUlJuu"S OI
men, women and children, women and
children largely predomnating in the grand
stand seats and windows.
START OF THE PARADE
Sixteen telegraph stations had been
placed along tho route of the parade, which
We're established for the purpose of commu-
ncating from one end of the line to the
other, and Just as telegram flashed over
the wire announcing that the pageant had
started from Broad and Dauphin streets, at
lO:25 o'clock this morning. Gov. Beaver
rode by in his carriage and was
greeted with "A hearty round Of
applause. BY IL o'clock the invited guests,
Governors, Foreign Ministers and others
began TO pour into their assigned places AS
The different Governors passed up or down
Broad street and were recognized, they re-
celved round after round of cheers, and
ladies' and children joined in the
greeting by waving their handkerchiefs
and parasols Broad street, from one end
to the other, was roped of, and 200 police
officers were on duty 60 preserve order.
Traffic on all streets crossing Broad was en-
tTely stopped, except at intervals OF forty
minutes, when the ropes were let down, and
street cars and other vehicles and pedes-
ulans were allowed to cross.
ON THE REVIEWING STAND.
On the reviewing stand the Constitutional
Centennial Commission was officially